Down by the Red Barn - Abby & Kyle Say I Do

Rustic wedding lovers, today's wedding is going to thrill you. Childhood sweethearts Abby and Kyle chose an archetypal red barn as the location for their rustic-style celebration and all the pieces fell into place. Their wedding was sweet American country-style simplicity (with a lot of thought, care and attention). We're delighted to share this slice of all-American wedding fun with you thanks to Jennifer Van Elk - hope you enjoy a look at how they do it state-side...

As I mentioned, Abby and Kyle are high school sweethearts, and have been together ever since a 4th of July many moons ago (it really is the all-American story) Abby told us all about it... "We started dating when I was just 15 and Kyle was turning 17. As we are from the same small-town, we always knew of each other but never spoke until the 4th of July in 2006. Kyle invited a group of friends over for a pool party between 4th of July festivities. I found myself flirting with Kyle. After bonding over milkshakes at Steak N’ Shake, visiting a local park and discussing similar music interests, we ended up watching the local firework show side-by-side that evening. We started dating a little less than a month later. We stayed together through the remainder of high school and eventually Kyle left for Purdue University in 2008 and I followed him in 2009. We remained together through eight years of school, two out-of-state internships, and one study abroad trip."

Things didn't go quite to plan for Kyle when it came to proposing to Abby but he pulled it out of the bag in the end, Abby gave us the tale..."It was around Christmas in 2012 and we were invited to a company Christmas party and I was getting ready at my parent’s house. My parents left for their own evening plans, while Kyle waited for me downstairs. I have a tendency to run a behind and Kyle was certainly counting on that for his proposal, however, this evening I was on time and ready to go. I went downstairs to retrieve Kyle but he wasn’t there. I found him outside, apparently playing with my parent’s dog, which seemed a little peculiar as it was freezing outside. Kyle seemed surprised that I was ready but kept his composure and we headed to the party...

...On the way to the party, Kyle remained cheery and calm despite being pulled over and ticketed by local law enforcement for going 40 in 35. After the party, Kyle took an odd way home by detouring through downtown Indianapolis. He just seemed to be driving around, buying time. Eventually, we came to a park that we went to the on our first 4th of July together. We had often come back to this little park to celebrate our anniversary before but this seemed to be odd timing. Kyle opened the door for me and walked me a little bit into the park and starting beaming. He dropped to one knee and we both became overwhelmed with happiness and tears. He later explained his plan was to propose at my parent’s house. He had spelled out the proposal using Christmas lights and wire, however, as I was on time, he ran out of time to set up the lights. Regardless, I was more than happy with the proposal without the intended plan!"

While the wedding was rustic, Abby definitely opted for glamour for her bridal look - fingerwaves in her hair, and bejewelled fishtail dress, she wasn't donning the wellies...

Brides and grooms take note, steal a few moments in the chaos to take it all in, it's those few moments that you'll cherish forever, as Megan explained... "The calm before the storm in the morning was a special time for me, I sat alone on my parents back porch, drinking a cup of coffee, reflecting on the marriage and the day ahead, it was such a lovely thing to do...

...About an hour before the wedding, it started raining, actually pouring. As shameful as it is to admit, we did not have a contingency plan for our outdoor wedding. As our guests were arriving, they were also running for cover....

Ten minutes after the scheduled time, the skies cleared, the groomsmen and guests came together to dry off the chairs and replace the altar. We had a big, beautiful sun as the backdrop for our ceremony. And then the moment finally came for us to say ‘I do’."

And what a place to say I do.

In line with the rustic vibe the couple were aiming for, the colour palette was a combination of beiges, soft yellow, white and pops of red. Abby dressed her bridesmaids in soft beige lace dresses to complement her own lace wedding dress, while Kyle's groomsmen donned taupe summer suits to tie in with the groom.

From the beginning of planning, Abby and Kyle envisaged the idea of a rustic-style wedding, but finding the perfect spot wasn't as easy as you would think (despite the rustic wedding trend starting in the US), as Megan told us "I started looking for venues shortly after Kyle and I were engaged. The Kelley Barn was one of the first I came across and the only one I fell in love with. It was relatively close to our hometown, offered flexible amenities and was ideal for our rustic idea. I contacted the venue, but unfortunately it was already booked for the next year. A few months later, a friend of a friend informed us that there was an opening in August (2 months before our ideal date). Before committing, we visited the venue on a cold March day. We just fell in love. It was unique, rustic and had a comfortable feel. It was easy to envision our guests mingling in the loft, playing corn hole between barns and getting ready in the accompanying farmhouse." And that's exactly what happened in the end as you can see. The venue just completed, or rather started, their vision-to-reality journey.

This desire for a country wedding wasn't just whimsy by the way, Abby and Kyle had thought very carefully about what they wanted "Primarily, we wanted our wedding to reflect our roots and our appreciation for the friends and family who have supported us throughout the years. Our registry table held pictures of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days. We incorporated an ‘Indiana’ theme throughout the planning, serving Indiana wine and beers and created Indiana shaped, salt dough ornaments as our favors. We also wanted to include our unique personalities and history. Our bar area was themed after the iconic Harry’s bar from our college town. We placed cards at the tables and corn hole boards in the lawn. There were small Italian themes tied into our rustic theme to reflect my Italian obsession."

Megan's advice to couples preparing to trip down the aisle is something I would firmly agree with "Take a moment for yourself. The day ahead is fast, chaotic and full of company. Take the time to think about your partner and the life you’re about to start together. At the same time, cherish the special moments you’ll share with your friends and family throughout the day. Months later, those are the strongest memories from the day."

Congratulations Abby and Kyle! Thanks so much for sharing your lovely barn wedding with us all, hope you're enjoying a fantastic married life.

A big Thank You also to Jennifer Van Elk for sharing her work with us at One Fab Day - www.jennifervanelk.com.The Wedding Details